Marijuana-laced brownies lead to arrests at Poly High School

LONG BEACH — Two Poly High School students have been arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana following an incident in which a teen allegedly attempted to sell marijuana-laced brownies to his classmates on campus, police said Monday.

A 48-year-old Long Beach man suspected of selling the marijuana-laced brownies to the teen was also arrested on suspicion of several drug-related offenses, said Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman Lisa Massacani said.

The incident began at 8 a.m. on March 23 when a 15-year-old Poly High student became ill and disoriented after consuming a brownie laced with marijuana, Massacani said. The boy was treated at a nearby hospital and released, she said.

Police responded to the school and tracked down another 15-year-old student who had allegedly taken several marijuana-laced brownies to school that day to sell to other students. The boy was located in a classroom, searched and arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana, she said.

Police determined the suspected student had distributed three other brownies that day. Officers found two other students who had consumed the brownies, including a 15-year-old girl who appeared to be under the influence. The girl was evaluated and released to her parents, Massacani said.

A 16-year-old boy was also arrested for possession of marijuana in connection with the incident. All of the students implicated in the incident are facing disciplinary action by the school, she added.

Detectives discovered that the teen suspected of selling the brownies had purchased them the night prior from a male adult acquaintance, who had bought marijuana and the marijuana-laced brownies from a local dispensary. The man, identified as Guyl Givens, is suspected of selling marijuana to minors, as well as the edibles, police said.

He was arrested in the 3400 block of Gaviota Avenue on various drug-related charges and is being held at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on $70,000 bail, Massacani said.

She said police believe Givens directed the student to sell the brownies to other students on campus.

The week following the incident, police in partnership with the school district coordinated a drug search at the school and randomly searched seven classrooms.

"The search resulted in the arrest of two students at the school after they were found to be in possession of marijuana, and one was additionally in possession of a box-cutter," Massacani said in a statement. "In addition, two citations were issued to two separate students for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia."

Massacani said the LBPD and the school district work together to conduct routine searches in an effort to keep drugs and illegal items off school grounds.

Anyone with any information about this incident or any other case involving juveniles should contact the LBPD Youth Services Section at 562-570-1425. Anonymous tips can be sent via text or web by visiting www.tipsoft.com.